News

By Brian Libby

It happens in practically every creative person's career: the moment when one must choose between continuing with a successful small operation or joining a bigger one; between a nimble independence and buying in to something larger than yourself.

It could be an indie-rock band signing with a major label, or a filmmaker popular on the festival circuit signing on with a big Hollywood studio.

THA receives an AIA Portland Chapter Citation Design Award for the renovation and addition of University of Oregon's Miller Theatre.

"Sophisticated vocabulary of exterior cladding effectively ties together and distinguishes the new from the old. The entry landscape much improved for the pedestrian life of the campus. Enlarged mass of the building improves relationship to Villard Hall." -Jury Comments

The city of Albany is looking to the past to build a better future for its downtown.

Last month, Albany City Council allocated $110,000 in urban renewal money to support a project that calls for creation of a carousel, museum, arcade and food building.

THA Architecture today announced the appointment of Corey Martin, considered one of Portland's leading designers, as a design principal. Martin, who co-founded the award-winning firm PATH Architecture, is noted among a pioneering group of innovative practices in Portland. Martin's leadership at THA signals the firm's expanding focus on advanced approaches to design, sustainability and craft.

There is a striking new jewel on campus where the bland façade of Harper Joy Theatre used to stand. The hub of Whitman's drama community underwent extensive remodeling over the summer. An expansive glass entrance leads the visitor into Harper Joy's chambered heart.

San Francisco Public Library's new Bayview Branch Library replaces the existing 1969 branch library with a new one-story building. The library will meet increasing program needs and provide an open, inviting, and secure confluence for this urban community.

Construction to start in 2013 on 5-story, $50M building

When the current home of Oregon State University's College of Business, Bexell Hall, was built in 1922, it was the academic base for about 900 students.

Brian Libby writes about Thomas Hacker's interview for the VAF in his Portland Architecture Blog.

THA Architecture has promoted four staff members to Associate: Mike Meade, Stefee Knudsen, Nick Hemmer and Jake Freauff.

Mike Meade has 10 years of design experience and has been with THA for four years. He has rapidly become one of THA's most meticulous and skilled project architects. Mike has a thorough understanding of construction sequencing, method and process and has worked on the firm's greenest projects including the LEED Platinum certified Mercy Corps Global Headquarters. Mike is currently working on the new Austin Hall Business Education Building at Oregon State University.

Stefee Knudsen came to THA with 20 years of experience in project management and sustainable design and has been with THA for one year. Her passion for sustainable design, effective communication and problem-solving has led to significant roles as designer and project manager on a wide-range of complex public projects. She is currently the project manager for Oregon Military Department's Polk County Readiness Center and General Service Administration's Bus Processing Facility at the Laredo Border Crossing in Texas.

Nick Hemmer has been with THA for five years and has contributed to the success of many THA projects, most recently Oregon State University's Hallie Ford Center. With an understanding of how to satisfy the multi-faceted needs of an institution, Nick excels in developing a teamwork atmosphere with owners, contractors and the design team. He possesses an extensive understanding of technical building issues and always strives to ensure that buildings perform at a high level, while meeting the needs of all users.

Jake Freauff joined THA in 2002 and is a deeply talented designer. His design and visualization skills in combination with an extensive understanding of technical building issues has made Jake a natural leader in advancing THA's design mission. He has collaborated on many of THA's most notable buildings, including the Humanities Complex at UC Santa Cruz and the Fouts Visual Arts Center for Whitman College. Jake is currently working on the State of Alaska's Library Archives Museum in Juneau.

Alexander Lungershausen, and associate at THA, interviews Thomas Hacker for the AIA's Young Architects Forum.

A Catalyst for Change: The new headquarters of Mercy Corps accomplishes multiple goals for its employees, for the local community, and for the environment.

From the inside out: Greening your practice is an ongoing process of evaluation and refinement, rather than a one-time action.

Jonah Cohen, managing principal of THA, discusses sustainable strategies for greening your firm, sharing some of THA's strategies for staying "green".

"I often have the feeling that what I want to achieve is unattainable, but the project that THA delivered is even more than I dreamed I could achieve." — Neal Keny-Guyer, CEO Mercy Corps

The University Architect / Campus Planning and Design Office along with the Architectural Program at Stanford co-sponsor a spring lecture series in architecture and landscape architecture. The purpose of the series is to bring together community enthusiasts, students and staff from across different disciplines to hear the latest innovations in building and design. The lectures provide the Bay Area architectural and design communities an opportunity to hear nationally and internationally renowned experts in the field.

Thom's lecture titled "Architecture as Fragment: Reflection of an Extended Whole" focused on four learning objectives were to present THA's body of work and how it responds to the social, political, and cultural context; how the physical context of the region influences the process and approach of the designer; gaining understanding of the interrelationships between architecture and landscape architecture; and finally, upon completion, participants will be able to communicate how different points of view from architects and landscape architects informs designs.

Fouts Center for Visual Arts realizes Whitman College's long-range plan for a new Arts District. Charles Dorn, THA principal; Peter Harvey, Chief Financial Officer; and Treasurer, and Charles Timm-Ballard, Planner at Whitman College, presented at the 2011 SCUP Pacific Regional conference in Seattle, Washington.

The Fouts Center is transforming the college community by elevating the presence of art in the daily lives of the faculty, the students it services, and its wider community. From high level strategic planning objectives to specific goals for learning outcomes, this presentation will show how the visual arts can be a catalyst for change.

Learning Outcomes: 1. Identify strategies for promoting community in campus planning through the use of art centers.

2. Discuss how to appropriately locate and plan a visual arts center.

3. Recognize how the design of the visual arts center impacts program enrollment and campus-wide interest.

4.Analyze faculty student / user perceptions of the completed visual arts center.

Mercy Corps Global Headquarters is among the winners for the 13th Good Design Is Good Business Award.

Featured in the Daily Journal of Commerce: A new exhibit and conference center in South El Monte, Calif., will tell the story of the San Gabriel River and serve as an example of innovative sustainable design.

Thomas Hacker will sit on the Japanese Garden's selection committee for the selection of an architect for the Garden's expansion.

Philip Hall at the University of Washington, Tacoma and the new Undergraduate Classroom Building at Washington State University, Vancouver has been awarded LEED Gold by the USGBC.

Philip Hall is a highly flexible assembly hall/commons building to provide students, faculty and the larger community with a place to engage in conversation, exchange ideas study, and socialize on the campus. Sustainable features include daylighting sensors with lighting controls, wall displacement air ventilation, thermally zoned spaces, and low VOC materials.

The new Undergraduate Classroom Building houses spaces for two major programs; Education Department and the New General Education Academy. Some of the building's sustainable features include: minimized site disturbance during construction, recycled 98% of construction waste, bioswales for stormwater filtration and retention, use of FSC certified wood, and 24.5% energy efficiency beyond code requirements (as modeled).

After years of neglect, UW Tacoma is restoring the Russel T. Joy Building to provide classrooms, school offices, and commercial space.

New hope for Ivy City Homes affordable housing project in Northeast Portland.

The renovation by THA Architecture and Karin Payson A+D preserves that essence - even the copper face of the fireplace has been given a fresh shine - while adding a wood-clad extension for restrooms and staff space.

Thomas Hacker narrates through design concepts of the new Alaska State Library, Archives, and Museum Project.

Article

featured in: The Oregon Daily Emerald

Construction has officially begun on the Lewis Integrative Science Building.

The $65 million building, being constructed along Franklin Boulevard, east of Huestis Hall, is expected to be completed in summer 2012 and be open for operation in fall 2012. The building will be the home to brain, molecular technology, nanotechnology and solar research, and will utilize state-of-the-art facilities. The 100,000-square-foot, five-story-high building will house 46 faculty offices, as well as office space for graduate and post-doctoral students, 10 collaboration and meeting spaces and more than 30,000 square feet of laboratory space for life and materials sciences. To read entire article click heading.

From the outside in and the inside out - New State Library, Archives and Museum building moves forward.

Juneau Empire, by Amy Fletcher

In a city where most buildings could generously be described as old and boxy, a major new building project is cause for celebration. When that building project's suggested design is conceptually linked to the history and culture of Alaska, and is both elegant and intelligent in form, excitement about the new construction is entirely warranted.

To read entire article click heading.

King Hall Community Celebrates Ribbon-Cutting and Open House

UC Davis School of Law officially opened the King Hall building's new east wing with a Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony and Open House on September 3. More than 250 faculty, students, staff, alumni, university officials, and special guests turned out to celebrate the occasion, listen to speakers including Dean Kevin R. Johnson and UC Davis Chancellor Linda Katehi, watch the ribbon-cutting, and tour the spectacular new facility.

Through our extensive reduction programs and off-set purchasing program, THA has become Carbon Neutral!

As architects, we acknowledge our responsibility to create socially and ecologically sustainable buildings. We continually work toward advancing design and construction methods to improve our projects while minimizing environmental impact. We are working on reducing our annual emissions of 220.5 tonnes CO2e by encouraging alternative transportation, minimizing waste production and paper consumption, decreasing energy usage, and reducing staff travel.

The Cyan Building located near Portland State University in downtown Portland is a 16-story building housing 353 urban homes. Sustainable design elements include: on-site rainwater storage, an accessible eco-roof, and an energy efficient design. Project partners: Gerding Edlan Development and GBD Architects.

THA principal David Keltner to give building tour of the LEED Platinum Mercy Corp World Headquarters with other principals from Glumac and Green Building Services. This event organized through the Cascadia Green Building Council. Event is 5:30 - 7:00 pm. RSVP at www.cascadiagbc.org.

THA's Principal, Becca Cavell, presented the University of Oregon College of Education project at SCUP's 2010 Regional Conference.

THA's Principal, Kacey Jurgens, presented the UW Tacoma Phase 3 expansion project at SCUP's 2010 Regional Conference.